The Sociology of Cardi B: A Trap Feminist Approach

Abstract

This powerfully written and co-authored book creatively engages with the topics of Black and Latinx femininity, motherhood, sexuality, racial and ethnic identity, and political engagement through the life and artistic work of Hip Hop artist Cardi B. The authors highlight examples from Cardi's lived experiences and artistry using a trap feminist framework as a starting point for sociological conversations about Black women and the trap. The authors weave foundational histories of Black sociology, Black feminism, and institutional inequalities along the lines of race, class, and gender. Drawing from moments in Cardi B’s public life—her rap lyrics, her behavior at New York Fashion Week, questions about her racial and ethnic identity, the unveiling of her pregnancy, her engagement with politicians, and her responses to social media comments and critics—this book argues for the merits of addressing Black feminist theory from the bottom up—that is, to take seriously the knowledge production of Black women by attending to and creating space for hood chicks, ghetto girls, and ratchet women. By centering the lived experiences and social positions of the Black women Cardi represents, the authors expand Black feminist discourse and entrust Black women to define themselves for themselves. This book is an important contribution to scholarship for students, scholars, and readers interested in sociology, Hip Hop, pop culture, and women's studies.